Simon Black Banks on Off-field Investment on Coast
Tuesday, 30/09/2008
Despite missing a record-equalling second Brownlow medal by the narrowest of margins, AFL star Simon Black has still celebrated a significant career milestone by opening his second Bank of Queensland Owner-Managed Branch (OMB) today.
Simon has partnered with experienced Gold Coast banker Steve Daley to purchase the Bank of Queensland OMB at Southport.
Steve brings more than 30 years’ banking and finance experience to the local community and has lived for the past 14 years on the Gold Coast.
Simon said he was looking forward to being an integral member of the Bank of Queensland Southport team and working closely with Steve to ensure customers received a premium level of service.
“This is an exciting day for me. Last year I took my relationship with Bank of Queensland from being a very happy customer to becoming an Owner-Manager of the Kallangur OMB,” Simon said.
“I’ve enjoyed the experience so much and found it so rewarding that I am thrilled to now be involved with Bank of Queensland Southport.
“We look forward to bringing something extra to the area through our unique combination of professional sporting and business experience. We invite the community to come into the branch and experience what we have to offer. If people can’t make it to the branch to see us we are just as happy to visit their workplace or residence,” Simon said.
Bank of Queensland Managing Director David Liddy said he was very pleased that Simon had chosen to increase his investment with BOQ.
“Simon’s qualities as an AFL player – passion, courage, integrity, achievement and the ability to excel as part of a team – are also Bank of Queensland’s core values and will ensure his success as one of our national network of Owner-Managers,” David said.
“The fact that Simon has now invested in his second branch within a year of becoming involved at BOQ Kallangur is proof of the power of the Owner-Managed Branch model as a business investment when coupled with the knowledge and skills of an experienced, top-quality banker.”
Simon is not the first high-profile sporting star to invest in a Bank of Queensland Owner-Managed Branch. Wallaby legend Ben Tune has been Owner-Manager of Brisbane’s South Bank OMB since 2003.
About Simon
Simon stamped himself as one of the truly elite midfielders of the modern era when he won the game’s most coveted individual honour in 2002, the Brownlow Medal. It was the ultimate reward for the ultimate team player, who has the best peripheral vision and ball-getting ability since dual Brownlow medallist, Greg Williams.
Simon is only the sixth man in the 107-year history of AFL/VFL to win the Brownlow Medal and the Club Champion award in a premiership year. He is also only the sixth player in history to win back to back best and fairest in consecutive premiership years. In 2003 after playing in his third successful Grand Final, Simon was awarded the Norm Smith Medal.
